How can we develop and apply an accessible, AI-supported method to identify local (including informal) heritage communities, so that heritage professionals can directly use this knowledge in policy and embed it sustainably in their practice?
In 2024, the Netherlands signed the Faro Convention. The convention places heritage communities at the center as key actors in the care for heritage. In the context of the Faro Convention, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) conducted ethnographic field research on heritage communities in Gouda. This produced valuable insights, but the method was labor-intensive. Municipalities and other institutions, such as the Dutch Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage (KIEN), are interested in mapping heritage communities, but lack practical tools and guidance.
We aim to explore whether the use of a digital tool—supported by AI or other techniques—can help municipal heritage officers and heritage professionals map locally active heritage communities more quickly and effectively, and better act in the spirit of the Faro Convention and its intended outcomes. The tool will be complemented by a manual, use scenarios, and training materials.